Safety device for carburetors



March 1 7, 1925.

E. H. BYERS SAFETY DEVICE FOR CARBURETORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 31, 1923 elk to: VII-(MP March 17, 1925.

E. H. BYERS SAFETY DEVICE FOR CARBURETORS Filed Oct. 51, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gvvve'nfoz E15 EF'E E Elwin. H

attoz "up Patented Mar. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES EDWIN HAROLD BYEBS, OF MATHER, PENNSYLVANIA.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR OARBliIR-ETOBS.

Application llled October 31, 1923. Serial). 671,968.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN citizen of the United States, reslding at Mather, in the county of Greene and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Safety Device for Carburetors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements 1n means to prevent the back-fire of exploding gases into the carburetor or fuel lines'of internal combustion engines.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a safety device for internal combustion engines and the like, whlch is preferably of such a nature that it may be sold as an accessory for placement in the fuel lines of internal combustion engines to prevent the back-firing of explodlng charges into the carburetor. p

A further object of this invention is the provision of a novel means for preventing the back-firing of a fuel charge from dam-' aging the carburetor and its working parts; the improved device being of such a nature as to permit the unimpeded flow of fuel from the carburetor in a highly eflicient manner.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a safety attachment of the above mentioned character which may be sold for accessory use in connection with conventional makes of internal combustion engines.

Other objects and advantages of this in vention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts tnroughout the several views,

Figwre 1 is a side elevation showing-"the location of the improved safety attachment in the fuel line of an internal combustion engine, between the intake manifold thereof and the carburetor.

Figur through the fuel line showing the location of the improved safety attachment therein with the operating parts thereof in such relation as to permit the flow of fuel to a desired location.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view showing parts similar to those illustrated in Figure 2, with the operating parts of the improved safety attachment in a position that they H. Bnms, a.

e 2 is a cross sectional view taken will assume incident to a back-firing of an explodin charge to vent the same prior to its reaching the carburetor.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a plan view of the improved attachment.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a novel type of valve member which is used for controllin the fuel and exploding gases in the at tac ment.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the improved attachment, showing that the same may be placed in a different position in a fuel line than the position illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, .-.thus adapting-the attachment for universal use..

Figure 8 is, a fragmentary crosssectional view taken through a fuel km with the improved attachment in the position illustrated in Figure 7.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustratoin is shown but the preferred embodiment of the carburetor attachment and the various positions which the same may assume, the letter A may generally designate the improved carburetor attachment, which may be placed in a fuel line B,

of tubular .formation is preferably provided U integral with the body 10, having a passageway 16 therein which communicates w1th the passageway 11. The tubular extension 15 is p-referablydisposed so that the axis thereof is at an acute angle with-respect to the axis of the body ortion 10. Within the passageway 16 the diametrically extending guide or support 'bars 18 and 19 may be provided, arranged at right angles to each other, and providing a spider, so.to' speak, for the slidable support of a valve detail to be subsequently mentioned.

The body ortion 10 is, of course, to be clamped in t e fuel line B, so that the passageway 11 thereof aligns with the passageway of said fuel line. This attachment may be accomplished by bolting the flanges 12 to any convenient flanges 21 which may be provided in the fuel line, placing gaskets 23 upon the outer surfaces of the flanges 12 between the same and the attaching flanges 21 of the fuel line B, substantially as is illustrated in the drawings. Suitable bolts or screws 25 may draw the attaching flanges l2 and 21 together to provide a non-leak connection with the passageway 11 in aligning relation with the fuel passageway 20. This attachment of the body 10 is of course accomplished adjacent the carburetor D, preferably between the same and the intake manifold C.

The improved attachment A is preferably providedwith a disc valve 30, preferably of flat elliptic formation having at one end thereof suitable-brackets 31 for supporting a pin 32 so that the ends thereof ext/end laterally of the attaching end of said valve. This valve is pivotally supported within the passageway 11 of the body portion 10, immediately adjacent an edge of the openingwhich communicates the passageways 11 and 16. It is preferred that the body passageway 11 be circular in formation, and so that the valve 30 will have a snug closing fit therein and yet perform the function for which it is adapted, the same has been made elliptic in outline so that it may be pivoted as close as possible to one side of the body 10, so that when opened it will not impede the passage of fuel through the passageway 11. The valve 30 may close the passageway 11 and when so doing it is disposed in a plane at an acute angle with respect to the axis of the passageway 11, substantially as is illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings. It is to be noted that the valve 30 has been placed adjacent one edge of the opening which communicates the passageways 11 and 16, so that when the valve 30 1s open in the passageway 11 it will have moved to partially close the opening which communicates said passageways. To limit the amplitude ,of open movement of the valve 30 within the passageway 11, an adjusting screw 32 is preferably provided, which is mounted for adjustment in. a screw threaded opening 33 at the juncture of the lateral extension 15 with the body 10; the same extending at an acute angle into the passageway 11, and against the inner end of which the valve 30 may abut when it is opened in the passagewa 11. Such position has been illustrated in igure 2 of the drawings, which shows the passageway 11 open to permit the unimpeded flow of fuel to the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine E, said valve 30 when in such position partially closing, although not entirely closin communication of the passageways 11 an 16. It is apparent that by adjustment of the screw 32 the limit of closing movement of the valve 30 may be regulated. I

A check valve construction 40 is provided in the passageway of the lateral extension 15, which preferably embodies a slide stem 41 mounted in aligning openings provided centrally of the guide bars 18 and 19. At

its outer screw threaded end 42 a valve head against the diametrically extending bar 18,

and at its other end engaging a washer 49 which is retained on the stem 41 by means of a cotter pin 50. The spring 48 is a compression spring and normally urges the head 43 into seating engagement with the outer edge of the extension 15 to close the passageway 16 thereof to the atmosphere. The compression of the spring 48 may be adjusted by adjusting the position of the valve head 43 on the screw threaded end 42 of the stem 41.

Referring to the manner of operation of the improved safety attachment A, the same may be positioned in a vertically disposed fuel line B, such as is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, or a horizontally disposed fuel line B such as is shown in Figure 7 of the drawings. With the fuel line B the passageway 11 will be arranged on a vertical axis so that the valve 30 when open will be almost disposed in a vertical plane. On the other hand, the axis of the passageway 11 in connection with a horizontally disposed fuel line B will be horizontally arranged therewith, so that the valve 30 will be disposed in a horizontal plane when it is open in the passageway 11 to permit the free flow of fuel therethrough from the carburetor D to the intake manifold C. In any instance the operation of the improved attachment is the same. During suction in the intake'manifold incident to the operation of the pistons in the internal combustion engine cylinders the fuel will be drawn from the carburetor D through the fuel line B,

and incident to passing therethrough the surface of the valve 30 which faces the passageway 16. It is to be noted that the valve 30 when fully opened is positioned so that gravity can assist in the closing of the passageway in the fuel line to prevent the forces of an explosion from entering the carburetor. The disc valve 30 will thus be forced to a closed position, substantially as is illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, and the exploding charge in the fuel line asv by back-fire will enter the passageway 18 and unset the valve head 43 and pass to the atmosphere.

It is preferred to provide a perforate sheet muflier on the outer end of the extension 16; the same having bayonet slots 56 inwardly from the inner marginal edge 57 thereof for cooperation over radial projections 57 provided exteriorly upon the extension 15. The front wall or face 59 of the mufller casing 55 is provided with a series of perforations 60 through which the exhaust and exploding gases may be vented to the atmosphere. This casing 55 not only provides a mufller but also protects the Valve structure 40, as can well be understood, and

preventing foreign materials from entering the fuel hne.

In connection with the formation of the passageway 11 of the body portion '10, at

one end of the body portion 10 the passage-' way 11 may be increased in cross section by cutting away a portion of the body 10, as at 65, which will permit the valve 30 to 0 en to permit an unrestricted flow of uel through the passageway 11.

From the foregoing description of this invention it is apparent that a safety attachment for carburetors and the like has been provided which will act in a positive and effective manner to vent the exploding gases from the fuel line.

Various changesin the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of the invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A safety attachment for carburetors comprising a body portion havin apassageway therethrough and an openlng communicating with said passageway, and a valve pivotally mounted in the passageway of said body portion between the inlet end thereof and the side opening close to the side opening and adapted when in an open position in the passageway to partially close the opening communicating with the passageway and adapted when closed to extend diagonally across the passageway and entirely close said passa eway and serve as means for directing uid under pressure into the side opening.

2. A carburetor attachment of the class described comprising a body portion having a passageway therethrough open at its ends, said body portion having an opening communicating transversely with said passageway, a valve pivotally mounted adjacent an edge of the transverse opening which communicates with said passageway movable in the direction of said transverse opening, and an adjusting screw carried by said body portion adapted to limit the amplitude of open movement of the valve in the passageway of the body portion.

3. In an attachment of the class described the combination of a body portion providing a passa eway therethrough open at the ends of the ody portion and having a transverse opening therein communicating with said passageway, a substantially elliptical shaped valve pivotally mounted in the passageway adjacent an edge of said opening, and an adjusting screw carried b the body portion at a point on the opposite side of said opening from the pivotal mounting of said valve adapted to control the relation of the valve with respect to said opening.

4. In an attachment of the class described the combination of a body portion providing a passageway therethrough open at the .ends of the body portion and having a transverse opening therein, communicating withsaid passageway, a substantially elliptical shaped valve pivotally mounted in the passageway adjacent an edge of said opening, and when in a closed position extending diagonally across the passage with its lower end slightly beneath the opening, an adjusting screw carried by the body portion at a point on the opposite side of said opening from the pivotal mounting of said valve adapted to control swinging of the valve away from a closing position, and a check valve operable in the opening which communicates with said passagewa EDN HAROLD BYERS. 

